Apparatus for removing inserts from an electrically insulating strip

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for removing inserts such as electrical contacts arranged in parallel rows on an electrically insulating strip. The apparatus includes a support for the strip, the support being provided with parallel channels for the reception of the heads of the inserts, there being parallel laterally spaced bars for supporting the strip and for defining the channels therebetween. There is provided a head bearing a plurality of punch members disposed in the same relationship as the insert-receiving zones of the strip, and a stop for engaging the forward row of inserts on the strip to position it correctly with respect to the punches. Upon the advance of the head toward the strip-supporting body, the punches engage the upstanding ends of the inserts and force the inserts downwardly out of the strip. There is preferably provided a container which automatically receives the inserts removed from the strip.

finited States Patent n91 Klinger [451 Sept. 3, 1974 APPARATUS FOR REMOVING INSERTS FROM AN ELECTRICALLY INSULATING STRIP.

Inventor: Dieter Klinger, Aistaig, Germany Mayer & Cie., Maschinenfabrik, Tailfingenwuertt, Germany Filed: Mar. 1, 1973 Appl. No.: 336,955

Assignee:

Foreign Application Priority Data Mar. 30, 1972 Germany 2215650 US. Cl. 29/203 B, 29/203 H Int. Cl. H05k 3/04 Field of Search 29/203 H, 203 B, 200 D,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Jansch 29/267 Barnes 29/203 H Primary ExaminerThomas H. Eager [5 7] ABSTRACT Apparatus for removing inserts such as electrical contacts arranged in parallel rows on an electrically insulating strip. The apparatus includes a support for the strip, the support being provided with parallel channels for the reception of the heads of the inserts, there being parallel laterally spaced bars for supporting the strip and for defining the channels therebetween. There is provided a head bearing a plurality of punch members disposed in the same relationship as the insert-receiving zones of the strip, and a stop for engaging the forward row of inserts on the strip to position it correctly with respect to the punches. Upon the advance of the head toward the strip-supporting body, the punches engage the upstanding ends of the inserts and force the inserts downwardly out of the strip. There is preferably provided a container which automatically receives the inserts removed from the strip.

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures APPARATUS FOR REMOVING INSERTS FROM AN ELECTRICALLY INSULATING STRIP This invention relates to an apparatus for removing inserts from an electrically insulating strip, said inserts being, for example, electrical contacts mounted on the strip and having heads or shanks protruding therefrom.

Electrical contact sheets are known in which a plurality of electrical contacts are mounted by means of shafts or stems inserted into holes in an electrically insulating supporting strip. To facilitate the insertion or removal of such contacts, there has been provided a master sheet or strip which is marked in the same manner as the sheet eventually to be produced. A desired insertion pattern is then formed on the original or master sheet or strip and after placement of the prepared electrically insulating strip on the original or master pattern insertion sheet, all of the inserted contacts or other electrical elements may be pushed into the final sheet. The pattern or insertion sheet is then removed from the final electrically insulating strip or sheet. If a new pattern is to employ the same insulating strip, all the inserted contacts'and circuit elements must be removed from the insulating strip before the formation of the new pattern.

The invention has among its objects the provision of an apparatus which rapidly removes inserts from the insulating strip. According to the present invention this object is achieved by an apparatus having a support for the electrically insulating strip bearing inserts, there being a pressure plate or platen which is movable relatively toward and away from the support. Preferably the support has a plurality of parallel uniformly spaced upstanding supporting ribs, the spaces between successive ribs constituting the channels which receive the heads of the inserts on the strip. The apparatus is preferably provided with a crosswise disposed stop which engages the heads of the inserts in the leading row of such inserts. When the pressure plate is advanced toward the support, the outer ends of the punches mounted thereon engage the protruding stems or the like of the inserts on the strips, and thrust the inserts through and disengage them from the strip. Following this, the pressure plate is removed from the support and the electrically insulating strip is again advanced to the point where the protruding portions of the inserts on the strip in the first row thereof engage the transversely mounted stop. After this the platen is again advanced toward the support, and a new group of inserts are removed from the strip. This cycle may be quickly repeated. There is preferably provided a collecting box or container for receiving the inserts which have been removed from the insulating strip.

In the disclosed embodiment, the pressure plate has punches which include a part yieldingly connected to the pressure plate and a part which is rigidly connected thereto, the yieldably mounted part being disposed first to engage the insert, following which the insert is engaged by the rigid part and finally thrust out of the insulating strip. in the example shown, the inserts are electrical contacts which engage one side of the insulating strip, the lower side being shown here, by a collar on the contacts, and engage the upper surface of the strip by a right-angled finger; the contacts here are provided with upstanding prongs or stems. The apparatus here shown is so arranged that the yieldably mounted part of each punch acts upon the stem of the contacts, whereas the rigidly mounted part thereof acts upon the right-angled finger on the contacts. The resilient part of the punch engages the stem of the contact first, whereby to subject the contact to an ejecting force. The rigid portion of the punch then engages the rightangled finger of the contact; after such finger has been pushed through the insulating sheet the yieldably mounted portion of the punch acts forcibly to eject the thus-removed contact from the insulating strip.

The yieldably or resiliently attached portion of the punch or stamping member and the rigidly attached portion thereof are mounted upon the side of the pressure plate confronting the strip-supporting member. The heads of the inserts such as the contacts here shown are advantageously of frusto-pyramidal shape, whereby to facilitate their insertion not only into the insulating strip but also into the channels provided in the support.

It is to be understood that the apparatus according to the invention is not limited in its application to the removal of electrical elements such as contacts from electrically insulating supporting strips. It can be employed for the removal of inserts in general from supporting strips, whether or not such strips are electrically insulating.

Details of the invention are disclosed hereinafter in the description and drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the apparatus in accordance with the invention is shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view partially in side elevation and partially in vertical section of the illustrative embodiment of the apparatus in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in plan of the lower, supporting portion of the apparatus as it appears from above in the absence of the upper movable pressure plate;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view in vertical section through the portion of the apparatus which is sectioned in FIG. 1', and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view in section taken along the line IVIV of FIG. 3.

The electrically insulating strip shown herein is designated by the reference character 15, there being inserted therein a plurality of inserts 19 arranged in rows which are parallel both longitudinally and transversely of the strip. The inserts 19 are electrical contacts having upstanding stems or prongs 191 and heads 193, the contacts being firmly held in the sheet 15 by having a collar 194 on their heads lying in engagement with the lower surface of the strip 15, and a right-angled finger 192 disposed in firm engagement with the upper surface of the strip 15 at a location bordering the hole in the strip through which the stem 191 extends. The contacts 19 are mounted in the strip 15 by being thrust upwardly through pre-cut holes in the strip so that the finger 192 finally snaps through the hole. When the contacts are removed from the strip they are thrust downwardly so that the finger 192 passes downwardly through the then distorted hole in the strip 15, this action being affected by the portion of the punch which is rigidly mounted to the pressure plate. The stem 191.

is meanwhile being subjected to increasing pressure by a plunger 23 under the action of a coil compression spring 22; when the finger 192 has become free of the strip 15, the spring 22 thrusts the contact forcibly downwardly free of the strip 15.

Turning now to the embodiment shown in the drawings, the apparatus includes a support and a pressure plate 11 which is pivotally connected to the support 10 by a pivot pin 12. The pressure plate 11 may be selectively opened, that is, moved upwardly away from the support 10, or closed, that is, placed in the position of FIG. 1, by an operator grasping a knob 13 on the end of a lever projecting from the outer end of the platen 11. If desired, means may be provided, such as a detent or a bullet catch engaging in a recess (not shown) in the platen 11, whereby stably to hold the platen or pressure plate 11 in open position. The pressure plate 11 has a channel 14 extending longitudinally therethrough for the reception of the insulating sheet 15 when the sheet 15 and the inserts 19 mounted thereon are thrust into the apparatus in the direction of the arrows in FIG. 1. Support 11) has means providing a curved supporting surface 16 upon which the rear end portion of the strip 15 may rest. In the embodiment shown, the contacts 19 are disposed in longitudinal parallel rows and also in transverse parallel rows. Also, the strip 15 is in this instance, transparent.

The strip 15 is supported on the support 10 upon the upper edges of a plurality of horizontally disposed parallel equally transversely spaced ribs 17, the spaces between successive ribs constituting channels 18 which receive the heads 193 of the contacts 19 on the strip 15. Beneath the ribs 17 the support 10 has a slanting surface 20 upon which the contacts 19 fall, after they have been separated from the strip 15, and down which they slide into an element collecting or receiving box 21 disposed at the lower end of the surface 20.

Upon the lower surface of the supporting plate 11 there are disposed, in longitudinal and transverse rows corresponding to the spacing of the elements 19 upon the strip 15, pressure members or punches. Each of such punches is composed of opposed vertical (FIG. 3) parallel members 24 which are rigidly secured to the pressure plate 11, the lower inner edges of each of members 24 being bevelled to receive the contact mounting-facilitating web on the stem or 91 of the contact and having its lower edge disposed to overly the right-angled finger 192 on the contact. Between successive members 24 there are disposed a plurality of plunges or punches 23 having centrally, vertically disposed stems slidable in bores in the support 11, the members 23 being constantly urged downwardly by coil compression spring 22. As shown in FIG. 2, upon the descent of the pressure plate 11 toward the supporting ring ribs 17, the upper end of the stem 191 of the contacts is first engaged by the member 23, the spring 22 is substantially compressed, and only after that does the lower inner edge of the member 24 engage the finger 192.

Upon such engagement of the lower inner edge to the member 24 with a finger 192, further downward travel of the support 11 causes the finger 192 to pushed through the now distorted hole in the strip 15 so as finally to free it from the strip. Thereupon the spring 22 expands, as shown at the right in FIG. 3, causing the contact 19 to be forcibly thrust downwardly from the strip 15. It will be noted that the head of each of the contacts 15 is provided with a groove 195 underlying the collar 194, the groove facilitating the gripping of the contact by hand or by pliers. In order to facilitate the mounting of the contacts 19 in the correct relationship with respect to sheet 15, the bottom end surface of the head 193 of each of the contacts is provided with an indicium, in this case a dimple 196, which is offset in a longitudinal direction from the axis of the contact. Such indicium 196 indicates the location of the contact mounting-facilitating web end orienting web 197 on the stem 191 of the contact 19.

As shown in FIG. 4, the space between the now upstanding supporting rib 17, that is the channels 18, are of such width that the head 193 of contacts 19 fit easily between the ribs. In operating the apparatus of the invention, the strip 15 bearing a number of contacts 19 is thrust into the apparatus in the direction from right to left, designated by the arrows until the first transverse row of contacts remaining on the strip abut the cross stop member 25. The strip is now correctly positioned to permit the contacts on the strip positioned therein to be removed. This is accomplished by lowering the support member 11 by swinging it downwardly in a clockwise direction, the members 23, as above explained, are first engaging the outer ends of the stems 191 of the contacts, the springs 22 then being progressively compressed, and the right angled finger member 192 finally being contacted by the inner lower edge of the member 24. Further lowering of the support plate 11 results in sufficient resilient distortion of the supporting strip 15 to permit the fingers 192 of the contacts to pass through the openings in the strip, the contacts being then forcibly ejected downwardly by the expansion of the springs 22. In FIG. 1 a few previously ejected contacts 19 are shown sliding down the inclined surface 22, and additional contacts are shown in the container 21. The support member 11 may then again be raised, the strip 15 may then again be thrust in the direction from right to left until the forward row of contacts 19 engage the stop 25, and thereafter the support member 11 is again lowered to remove the group of contacts on the strip then lying within the apparatus.

Although the invention is illustrated and described with reference to one preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be expressly understood that it is in no way limited to the disclosure of such a preferred embodiment, but is capable of numerous modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for removing inserts from a supporting strip, said inserts extending through the strip and having a head on one side of the strip, comprising a support for the strip with its included inserts, said support being provided with channels for the free reception of the downwardly facing heads of the inserts, a pressure plate mounted for movement toward and away from the support, and punches on the pressure plate disposed to engage the upper ends of the respective inserts in the strip and to thrust the inserts out of the strip as the pressure member travels toward the support.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said support comprises a plurality of spaced parallel upstanding supporting ribs, the spaces between successive ribs constituting said channels receiving the heads of the inserts, the inserts on the strip being disposed in a plurality of longitudinally extending rows, and comprising a transversely disposed abutment mounted on the support for engagement with the inserts in the forward portion of the strip as the latter is fed into the apparatus.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising the means pivotally attaching the pressure plate to the support, and means attached to the pressure plate for selectively oscillating it in opposite direction with respect to the support.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inserts have opposed laterally projecting means thereon between which a portion of the supporting strip is held whereby to secure the insert in the strip, and the inserts have upstanding stems on the ends thereof opposite their heads, and the punches have a plurality of parts one of which is rigidly secured to the pressure plate and the other of which is mounted for resilient movement toward and away from the pressure plate, said two parts of the punches engaging different portion of the inserts which are disposed above the upper surface of the supporting strip.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the rigidly mounted part of the punch engages the upper laterally extending portion of the insert which overlies a portion of the supporting strip, and the resiliently mounted portion of the punch engages the upper end of the stern of the insert.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heads of the inserts have downwardly converging bounding surfaces whereby to facilitate their insertion into the channels of the support of the apparatus.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the channels in the support are downwardly open, so that the inserts when removed from the supporting strip fall freely downwardly from the strip supporting surfaces.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the support has an inclined surface disposed below the lower open ends on the channels, and comprising a receptacle at the lower end of such inclined surface, the inclined surface removing the inserts removed from the supporting strip and forwarding them to the receptacle. 

1. Apparatus for removing inserts from a supporting strip, said inserts extending through the strip and having a head on one side of the strip, comprising a support for the strip with its included inserts, said support being provided with channels for the free reception of the downwardly facing heads of the inserts, a pressure plate mounted for movement toward and away from the support, and punches on the pressure plate disposed to engage the upper ends of the respective inserts in the strip and to thrust the inserts out of the strip as the pressure member travels toward the support.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said support comprises a plurality of spaced parallel upstanding supporting ribs, the spaces between successive ribs constituting said channels receiving the heads of the inserts, the inserts on the strip being disposed in a plurality of longitudinally extending rows, and comprising a transversely disposed abutment mounted on the support for engagement with the inserts in the forward portion of the strip as the latter is fed into the apparatus.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising the means pivotally attaching the pressure plate to the support, and means attached to the pressure plate for selectively oscillating it in opposite direction with respect to the support.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inserts have opposed laterally projecting means thereon between which a portion of the supporting strip is held whereby to secure the insert in the strip, and the inserts have upstanding stems on the ends thereof opposite their heads, and the punches have a plurality of parts one of which is rigidly secured to the pressure plate and the other of which is mounted for resilient movement toward and away from the pressure plate, said two parts of the punches engaging different portion of the inserts which are disposed above the upper surface of the supporting strip.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4, whereIn the rigidly mounted part of the punch engages the upper laterally extending portion of the insert which overlies a portion of the supporting strip, and the resiliently mounted portion of the punch engages the upper end of the stem of the insert.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heads of the inserts have downwardly converging bounding surfaces whereby to facilitate their insertion into the channels of the support of the apparatus.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the channels in the support are downwardly open, so that the inserts when removed from the supporting strip fall freely downwardly from the strip supporting surfaces.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the support has an inclined surface disposed below the lower open ends on the channels, and comprising a receptacle at the lower end of such inclined surface, the inclined surface removing the inserts removed from the supporting strip and forwarding them to the receptacle. 